Review: Season Thirty Premiere Of 'Antiques Roadshow'

Nearly everyone has some television show that resonates deeply into their souls. Some show that provides an emotional connection that means more than the show itself. Thinking about it reminds you of those times you watched it with a parent, or enjoyed it every week with a sibling. These are the shows that are reminders that television has the ability to connect with viewers in a very personal way.

For me, that special show is the long-running PBS series Antiques Roadshow. The format was originally created by the BBC, but Boston's WGBH has been producing a version of it here in the States for decades. Over the years, the show had several hosts, but they are long gone and honestly, they weren't much missed. What makes the show worth watching are the items people bring to be appraised, the stories they tell and the personalities of the individual appraisers. 

I have a 20-year-old who among other things struggles with ADHD, so while he enjoys watching TV or a movie with me, sitting through anything for more than 30 minutes or so can be a struggle for him. But for years, our nightly routine has been sitting down to watch old episodes of Antiques Roadshow together. He'll watch them until he can't keep his eyes open and when we miss a night, he complains about the loss of time with me watching his favorite series.



Part of the attraction for him - and for me - is just the history behind the items being appraised. We are both history geeks, but every episode brings a number of items we have never seen before. And they are often accompanied by stories that provide unexpected insight into the everyday lives of people living a hundred or more years ago.

Over the years, we've turned the valuations of the items into a bit of a game, attempting to outguess each other as we try and predict how much an item might be worth. This is the show that decades from now, when I am long gone, he will remember as a program that allowed us to spend time with each other and connect in a way that can sometimes feel impossible when you have a still young son or daughter.

Season thirty premieres nationally on PBS tonight, and it is the same joyful mix of the unexpected and the amusing. My son and I will laugh every time someone predictably responds to a hefty valuation with a stunned "wow." We'll chuckle when we see someone who has carried a massive 1880s sofa across multiple parking lots only to discover it is only worth $200.



There are some genuine surprises in tonight's episode, which takes place at Utah's Red Butte Garden & Arboretum. Items include everything from vaguely creepy paper mache animals to a first edition of "The Hobbit," and the valuations are often unpredictable. 

But what hasn't changed is the simple joy that comes from watching a show that provides some time away from the stresses of the world. I appreciate many of the high-profile scripted TV shows I've watched and written about in recent years. However, I suspect I'll consider the time I've spent watching the Antiques Roadshow with my son to be some of my most important time in front of the television.